The Internet of Things (IoT)

There are now more devices attached to the internet as machine to machine connections than there are devices attached that support human interface and interaction.

Sensors, devices, wearables, SCADA, PLC machines, and many, many more.

What is IoT ?

A network of Physical Objects that can interact with each other to share information and take Action.

The term was first proposed by Kevin Ashton in 1999.

The concept of IoT first became popular at the Auto-ID center, MIT.

IoT can also be pronounced as Machine to Machine (M2M) Technology.

Venture Capital Definition of IoT

Perspective

Cisco appears to view IoT as an opportunity to expand networks to connect all of the emerging devices.

Google is focused on creating devices that will become members of the community of IoT (Nest). They are actively engaged in guiding companies to make both existing products and new products members of that community.

Simple View of the Internet of Things

Information Technology

Personal Technology

Operational Technology

PCsServers

VirtualizationRoutersSwitches

TabletsSmartphones

Mi-Fi

Home energyWearables

Medical implantsHome entertainment

Home control

ICS/SCADAMedical Machines

KiosksManufacturing

Cloud Service Infra.Environ. monitoring

The Operational Technology Specialization

• Manufacturing

• Connected Safety and Security

• Energy and Utilities

• Travel and Transport

• Retail

• Stadiums, arenas, entertainment and conference centers

Presenters will tell you that there are fifteen times more potential network connections on the manufacturing plant floor than in the existing office/carpeted space.

Are you ready for a fifteen fold increase in devices to be secured and managed? And these are completely different types of devices arriving from the Operational Technology domain?

Its already here

However:

• M2M is highly fragmented & dedicated to a single purpose (e.g. fleet management, meter reading, vending machines).

• Multitude of technical solutions & disjointed standards activities result in slow development of global M2M market.

• Standardisation is key enabler to remove technical barriers & ensure interoperable M2M services & networks

• M2M / IoT has huge potential but currently comprises a heterogeneous collection of established & emerging (often competing) technologies & standards (although moves are afoot here). This is because the concept applies to & has grown from, a wide range of market sectors.

Things everywhere

Linkto article: http://www.beechamresearch.com/article.aspx?id=4

Architecture of IoT

Things

• Sensors

• Actuators

• Infrastructure

• Repository

• “Face”

Is No Way to Go Through Life, Son!

ThinDrunk

&Stupid

There’s hope… What can I do?!?

• Start thinking about new protocols (CoAP & MQQT)

• Minimize the threat surface (Start building VLANs-of-One)

• Build Watson-like intelligence into your SIEM

• Start thinking like… • It’s not on our network

• It’s not in our building

• We don’t even know that it exists

• But, it’s in our organization